by Larissa Ione
Seminus—A rare, specialized breed of incubi. Members of the breed are exclusively male. As a ter'taceo species, they appear human. As incubi, they are always attractive, and their sexual pheromones can loosen up even the most prickly females. At one hundred years old, Seminus demons gain the ability to shapeshift and impregnate females of other species. Because individual Seminus demons are raised by different species, their Ufelskala scores vary wildly. In addition, after their second maturation cycle at the age of one hundred, they often lose any sense of compassion and rationality they might have had before the s'genesis. Ufelskala Score: Varies
Sensor—Ter'taceo demons who live and work with humans in order to seek out and destroy the infant half-breed offspring of humans and demons. Though their natural form is humanoid, their skin begins to deteriorate after too much time in the human realm. They must return to Sheoul every six months to endure a two-week regeneration ritual. Ufelskala Score: 2
Shapeshifter—Shapeshifters (as their own distinct species, as opposed to a demon who can shift his shape) differ from weres in two main ways: shapeshifters turn into true animals, not human-beasts, and shapeshifters can shift at will and are not affected by the full moon. All true shifters have a telltale birthmark, a red, star-shaped mole behind the left ear. According to the Daemonica, the demon bible, shapeshifters, like weres and vampires, have human souls. Ufelskala Score: Varies
Silas Demon—The mercenaries of the underworld. These pale white, eyeless demons live in Sheoul, in large communities where no other species is allowed. They sell their war services to the highest bidders as groups, not individuals, and they will destroy anything and anyone they are paid to kill. Their clothing is made entirely of the hides and skins of their victims. Ufelskala Score: 4
Slogthu—Apelike demons with long, tufted ears. They often have exaggerated underbites, overgrown lower fangs, and patchy fur. A cold-weather species, they live high up in mountains or in icy regions of Sheoul. They are extremely dexterous, famous for their finely woven garments and rugs. Omnivores, they prefer their meat cooked. Ufelskala Score: 1
Sora—Red-skinned, attractive, black hair, and tiny black or white horns that change shade with their mood. Often described as looking like cartoon devils. Very sexual beings, they rarely form pair-bonds and usually have multiple partners composed of several species, though they can only breed with their own kind. Ufelskala Score: 1
Soulshredder—Both feared and respected throughout Sheoul, Soulshredders are vicious even by demon standards. They feed off pain, misery, and terror. They rarely kill outright, instead spending years, even decades, haunting and torturing their victims. They resemble skinned gargoyles, with membrane-thin wings, serrated talons on red, scaly paws, and barbed penises. Ufelskala Score: 5
Spiny Hellrat—Similar in size to muskrats, these scavengers populate Sheoul by the millions. Supposedly tasty, they are considered by many demons to be food only "poor demon trash" would eat. Their spines, about as long and thick as a hedgehog's, are venomous, as is their bite. Ufelskala Score: 1
Trillah—A sleek, catlike species. Tall, toned, and graceful, they have bronze skin in the summer and a velvety coat of golden fur in the winter. One of the few non-ter'taceo species visible at all times to humans, they were forced into Sheoul when the human population grew too large for Trillahs to remain out in the open. Though Trillahs are not evil, they resent mankind for their banishment to Sheoul. Ufelskala Score: 1
Umber—Humanoid bodies with gray skin, charcoal hair, and gunmetal eyes. Very gentle, cave-dwelling species. They are good judges of character, having a natural ability to sense evil and good inside someone, and depending on their level of skill, Umbers can lessen or even remove the darkness/guilt that weighs an individual down. Ufelskala Score: 1
Vampire—It is believe that vampires were created from fallen angels. Any vampire may turn a human into a vampire, but after a population explosion in the Dark Ages, followed by a vampire civil war, the Vampire Council was formed, and rules were created to regulate not only turnings, but behavior in general. Many of the popular vampire legends are true, but vampires do not believe that their souls are doomed. They live with the belief that if they willingly walk into the morning sun, their souls will be carried to Heaven for judgment before God. However, any vampire killed in any other manner is doomed to suffer eternal torment in Sheoul-gra. Ufelskala Score: Varies
Viper Ghoul—Ill-tempered, nasty, man-sized reptile that resembles a cobra that has been dead for a month. Viper ghouls are easily controlled by sorcery and are often summoned by humans who play with black magic without fully grasping its power. The results can be deadly. Ufelskala Score: 2
Were-Beasts—Weres are humans who shift only during the three nights of the full moon. They turn into large, two-legged, furry beasts with both human and animal features. Only a few species of were-creatures exist. Werewolves (who call themselves wargs) werebears, and wereleopards, though werewolves are the most common. There are two classes of were-beasts: those who are born weres, and those who are turned after being bitten. Born weres, especially wolves, tend to live in packs, while turned wolves usually lead solitary existences. There are rumors of a rare breed of werewolves called dark weres, who change during the new moon instead of the full moon. Ufelskala Score: Varies
The Hospital
Underworld General Hospital (yes, that would be UGH) is a medical center that sits beneath the streets of New York City. Built by demons, it is part of the human realm. The decision to erect it under human noses instead of in Sheoul was one Eidolon, Shade, and Wraith argued about for months. Ultimately, the decision to build outside Sheoul came about because many of the spells needed to protect the hospital function only in the human realm, and because Eidolon knew he'd need to employ humans, and humans couldn't use Harrowgates to travel to the hospital if it were located in Sheoul.
Underworld General uses the same modern equipment, supplies, and techniques known to human medicine. Eidolon stays as current as he can, and he actively recruits ter'taceo to attend human medical schools to ensure he always has enough staff. Educated, trained staff members are responsible for training those who can't pass as humans in medical schools. Because most demons can't attend medical school—and because some demons are natural or mystical healers—he doesn't require his staff to have medical degrees to work at UG, but he does require that they be adequately trained and skilled.
Demon medicine provides a challenge unlike any other. Every demon species' physiology is unique, and every doctor's talents and skills are just as unique. For the most part, Eidolon and his staff are learning as they go.
To aid in the learning process, every new species or breed that is admitted into the hospital is given a thorough examination, X-rays, blood and genetic tests... basically, Eidolon insists that every demon be catalogued and studied. All demons are also asked to donate blood for the bank.
Running an operation such as Underworld General is expensive, as one would guess. Though Eidolon was able to raise funds for the initial costs through his family connections, coming up with additional funding required creativity... and Wraith.
Wraith's suggestion to "squeeze the patients" was immediately met with resistance, but Shade had quickly come around. Though most demons can't pay with money, they can pay with favors specific to their breed or their occupation. The barter system works, but it brings in only a small percentage of the income needed to run the hospital.
A large percentage of funding comes from a by-product of Wraith's job, which is to gather ancient artifacts and magical items for hospital use. Extras and anything that can't be used to cure patients is sold on the legitimate and black markets.
Wraith's other suggestion, to "squeeze wealthy fucks," was one Eidolon agreed to right away. The human world is crawling with ter'taceo who use their underworld connections to gain wealth and power, and after a little of Eidolon's convincing and Wraith's "squeezing," they've been more than happy to donate to a worthy cause like Underworld General.
The Key Players in the Demonica World
Eidolon (EYE-duh-lawn)—Head of Underworld General Hospital, a medical center he built with brothers Shade and Wraith. Born to the Judicia, demons who serve as judge, jury, and executioner for all demon races. He was bestowed with judicial powers and served with the Judicia as a Justice Dealer for decades, until he made a choice that changed his life forever: he attended human medical school and became a doctor in order to make the most of his healing gift.
Hair: Short, dark brown/black
Eyes: Dark brown Height: 6 4"
Profession: Physician
Species: Incubus
Breed: Seminus demon
Identifying marks: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder
Personal Seminus symbol: Set of scales on throat
Gemella Endri—Raised by Sensor demon parents, Gemella was expected to follow in their footsteps and destroy infants born to human-demon unions. Instead, she followed her own path and became a doctor, working in a human hospital in order to root out medical issues with supernatural/demon origins.
Hair: Length and color changes frequently. Usually shoulder-length and black with streaks of blue, red, or pink.
Eyes: Green
Profession: Physician
Species: Half human, half Soulshredder
Identifying marks: Pierced tongue, eyebrow, ears, navel. Long-stemmed rose tattoo running the length of her left leg. Dragon tattoo on her abdomen. Tattooed Celtic bands around ankles, wrists, and neck.
Kynan Morgan—Former Aegis leader of the New York City cell. Joined The Aegis after being injured by a demon while on a mission as a United States Army medic in Afghanistan.
Hair: Short, spiky, dark brown
Eyes: Navy blue
Height: 6 2"
Profession: Aegis Guardian
Species: Human
Identifying features: Gravelly voice from vocal-cord damage. Scarred throat.
Lore—Born in 1880 to a human mother who believed he was the son of Satan and raised by his maternal grandparents, Lore never seemed to fit in. Fitting in became more of a problem when, at the age of twenty, he went through a strange transformation. By the time it was over, he'd gained a tattoo on his right arm and had killed several people with nothing more than a touch. Unable to control his cursed ability to kill, he hid away in the mountains of North Carolina, where he existed as a hermit until the day he was forced into the life of an enslaved assassin.
Hair: Short, black
Eyes: Dark brown
Height: 6 6"
Species: Half human, half Seminus demon
Identifying marks: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder
Personal Seminus symbol: None
Luc (Lewk)—Born in 1896, American-born son of French immigrants, he joined the army when his father left his mother and fled to France with a mistress. Luc requested assignment in Europe and was granted the assignment to fight in France during World War I. Before he could locate his father, he was bitten by a werewolf. He has spent the time since trying to hold onto his humanity.
Hair: Shaggy, black
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 6' 6"
Profession: Paramedic
Species: Werewolf
Reaver—A fallen angel who has never entered Sheoul to complete the fall, Reaver is stuck between two worlds, caught between a rock and a hard place. Without the power of Heaven or Sheoul to draw on, he's weakened, physically and mentally, and he's in a constant battle with his baser desires.
Hair: Long, to the middle of his back, pale blond
Eyes: Blue
Height: 6 6"
Profession: Physician
Species: Fallen angel
Roag (Rogue)—Roag, the oldest surviving brother of Eidolon, Shade, and Wraith, grew up in true hell—in the Neethul slave pits. Born to a Neethul mother who kept him with the intention of selling him later as a slave, he learned early to fight dirty. He made his first kill at the age of four, when he slit the throat of a sleeping slave in order to steal his food. Roag's mother, proud of the son she'd intended to sell off, decided to keep him close, and it wasn't long before he was running his own slave pit. After his first maturation cycle at the age of twenty, he escaped Sheoul to live in the human world, where fragile humans were easier to trick, brutalize, and kill. He never expected to like any other being, but against all odds, he developed a fondness for Eidolon, who was the only person who has ever been able to influence Roag at all.
Hair: Shaved, dark brown/black
Eyes: Dark brown
Height: 6' 3"
Species: Incubus
Breed: Seminus demon
Identifying features: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder. Irish accent.
Personal Seminus symbol: Snake swallowing its tail
Runa Wagner (RUE-nuh)—Grew up with her older brother, Arik, in a volatile household with an abusive, alcoholic father. When Runa was a teenager, her father left and her mother committed suicide, leaving Arik to raise Runa. She dated Shade during a hard time in her life. His betrayal led to even harder times.
Hair: Shoulder-length, caramel brown
Eyes: Pale champagne
Species: Werewolf
Serena Kelley—Serena loves life, adventure, and danger. She possesses an uncanny ability to locate anything she's looking for, and someday she'd really like to take a stab at finding the Holy Grail.
Hair: Long, blond
Eyes: Brown
Profession: Treasure hunter
Species: Human
Identifying feature: Necklace she never removes
Shade—Born to an Umber demon mother, and raised in a cave in Central America. Thanks to a curse placed on him at the age of twenty, he avoided attachments, especially with females, for years. Has a fondness for leather, Harleys, and, until he met Runa, one-night stands.
Hair: Shoulder-length, dark brown/black
Eyes: Dark brown/black
Height: 6 '3 1/2"
Profession: Paramedic
Species: Incubus
Breed: Seminus demon
Identifying marks: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder. Pierced left ear.
Personal Seminus symbol: Unseeing eye on throat
Tayla Mancuso—Tayla spent her entire childhood and most of her teenage years in foster care thanks to a drug-addicted mother who was unable to care for Tayla. Eventually, Tayla's mother gained custody of her, but the happy reunion was cut short when Tayla witnessed her mother's torture and death at the hands of a demon. After that, Tayla dedicated every waking moment to killing demons, and until she met Eidolon, she believed that the only good demon is a demon with a stang buried in its brain.
Hair: Red
Eyes: Green
Profession: Aegis Guardian
Species: Half human, half Soulshredder
Wraith—As a demon born to a vampire, Wraith is an anomaly. A childhood of torture at the hands of vampires gave him an intense hatred of the entire race, and he spent his entire adult life killing them for sport. His horrific younger years left him with a strange quirk: he won't feed from or have sex with human women. All other females, however, are fair game—a game he plays several times a day. Unlike most Seminus demons, Wraith was born with the red-eyed glare other Sems gain around the time of s'genesis.
Hair: Kept between chin- and shoulder-length, bleached blond
Eyes: Blue Height: 6 5"
Profession: In charge of acquisitions for UG
Species: Incubus
Breed:: Seminus demon
Identifying marks: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder
Personal Seminus symbol: Hourglass on throat
The Reckoning
Reckoning (noun)—An unpleasant or disastrous destiny
Chicago. 1928.
They were coming.
Wraith lurched across
the floor of the abandoned brewery, one leg dragging. He'd yanked the dagger out of his thigh, but the damage had been done, because his leg wouldn't work right. Hell, it wouldn't work at all.
Dusty equipment and trash littered the huge warehouse, slowing him down even more. He ducked behind a giant vat, but if he believed he was hiding, he was fooling himself. Even if he wasn't leaving a blood trail a blind man could follow, the bastards on his tail were vamps. They'd track him by scent.
Pain radiated up from his leg, competing with the burning in his lungs for attention. Wincing, he put pressure on the puncture wound, which did nothing to stanch the blood.
He was in trouble.
Two years of running had gotten him nowhere. His mother's clan had finally caught up with him. They'd chased him from California to Texas, and from there to Canada. Then Alaska. Now he was in Chicago, thinking he should have forced someone to teach him about the Harrowgates instead of traveling on foot, following the odd, ever-present feeling deep in his chest that told him he had family out there.
